Darragh McElhinney wins National Junior Championship, Nicole Dinan Wins Under-14 Girls, leading Leevale Team to National Gold, while Leevale Women retain National Senior Title

Ciara Mageean (UCD) and Kevin Dooney (Raheny Shamrock) capped a wonderful day of racing at the Irish Life Health National Cross Country championships by capturing their first titles at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus in Abbotstown today (November 25).

Mageean, more adept on the track, ran strongly over 8,000m to win in 28:02 and to hold off Annmarie McGlynn (Letterkenny) in second in 28:05 and Fionnuala Ross (Armagh) in third in 28:08. Leevale AC's Michelle Finn, in fourth place, led the team to their second consecutive National Senior Title, with Letterkenny AC taking Silver, ahead of North Down, in Bronze.

It was a good showing for Mageean and now sees her hold national titles on the track, outdoors and indoors, and cross country.

Leevale won the team race, led home by Michelle Finn in fourth, with Letterkenny second, and North Down third.

It was a thrilling day of racing with a carnival atmosphere with Kevin Dooney winning a classic battle with Clonmel’s Sean Tobin and Kevin Maunsell.

Dooney won in 30:07 to hold off a fast finishing Sean Tobin 30:11, with Kevin Maunsell in third in 30:18. It was double delight for Dooney as he helped Raheny Shamrock to three National Team titles in-a-row. Clonliffe Harriers were second, with Clonmel third.

Sarah Healy (Blackrock) was supreme in the women’s Under-18 and Under-20 4,000m winning in 13:28 ahead of Emma O’Brien (Sli Cualann) in 13:46, and Jodie McCann (Dublin City Harriers) in third in 13:53. West Waterford took a great team win to topple DSD.

There were plenty of nerves on display throughout the day and Darragh McElhinney (Bantry) said he was a relieved winner of the combined U18 and U20 men’s 6,000m race in 18:21. Sean O’Leary (Clonliffe Hariers) was a strong second in 18:27 with Jamie Battle (Mullingar Harriers) third in 18:33. Clonliffe Harriers took the team honours.

The juvenile races provided plenty of excitement too with Saoirse Fitzgerald (Lucan Harriers) and Fionn McNamara (Annalee) the first winners of the day, in the respective Under-12 girls and boys 2,000m races.

About Us

Cork Athletics is a constituent member of Athletics Ireland.
Cork Athletics is the governing body, administering athletics, track and field (T&F), cross-country (XC) and running in county Cork.
The Board comprises elected representatives of constituent athletic clubs and running clubs.
Cork County Board AAI organises Championship races and competition, including road, track & field (T&F) and Cross-country (XC), at junior, juvenile, senior and masters levels, and selects representation for the county.
In addition, training and education is provided for coaches and officials. The Board also regulates the Athletics Ireland race/event permit (licence) process for county Cork.